KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Monday said that Nepal would soon advance to the status of a developing country from that of a least developed country.

Addressing an international seminar on 'Envisioning Nepal 2030' organised by the National Planning Commission (NPC) and the Asian Development Bank at the Soaltee Crown Plaza of the Capital today, PM Oli said the nation needed a long-term strategic development of existing plans and policies. Likewise, he stressed implementation of those mechanisms to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

“For this, we have to double our annual investment, build essential infrastructure including strategic road and railway networks, communication, and electricity,” Oli said, informing that a 20-year Agriculture Development Strategy was approved by the Cabinet and is ready for implementation.

Oli hoped that the seminar would be an apt moment as all the attention and efforts were being geared towards economic development and prosperity after promulgation of the new Constitution.

Recalling his recent visits to the two neighbours, he said new avenues for bilateral and trilateral cooperation had been accelerated including a cross-border trade with increasing foreign investments.

“Nepal has unique geographical locations, abundant natural resources, biodiversity and landscapes that widen connectivity across the borders towards a self-reliant economy,” PM said, “Nepal has been able to reduce poverty, achieve most of the Millennium Development Goals, and make significant social development particularly in health and education.”

After the massive earthquake last year, vulnerability to the risk to natural disaster had increased and with that people had realised the need of disaster response team to address such situations, the leader informed.

Also, thanking the NPC for disclosing their long-term developmental discourse in the national and global context, he said he was positive to learn from the past and develop new strategies.

PM Oli wished for the seminar’s success and extended his belief that it would provide a platform where all the stakeholders could contribute and work for climate change, sustainable development activities and renewable energy resources.